11-party alliance including Jamaat begins Dhaka-Khulna-Kushtia long march

The Dhaka-Khulna-Kushtia long march announced by the 11-party alliance including Jamaat-e-Islami began this morning, Saturday (31 October), with an inaugural rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram in the capital. Leaders and activists from various levels of the 11-party alliance were present at the inaugural rally, according to reports.

The programme has two main demands — implementation of the July Charter and respect for the verdict of the referendum. Organisers said the long march was arranged centring on these two demands.

The motorcade will leave the capital and cross the Padma Bridge, then pass through Shariatpur, Madaripur and Bhanga in Faridpur. The convoy will then cross Gopalganj and travel through Khulna, Jashore and Jhenaidah to reach Kushtia, where a concluding rally will mark the end of the long march.

As part of the preparations, Jamaat leaders held a meeting with the district administration and police in Gopalganj. The meeting was attended by former district Jamaat ameer Advocate Ajmal Hossain, current ameer Maulana Rezaul Karim and Faridpur district ameer Maulana Badr Uddin.

Speaking at the inaugural rally, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju warned that if the BNP fails to implement the July Charter and the referendum verdict, the people will brand the BNP as "traitors". He claimed that nearly 40 million people took part in the referendum, leaving no room to ignore the verdict.

Jamaat leaders said the motorcade would use one side of the Dhaka-Khulna highway to minimise suffering of the general public. District police said maximum vigilance and strict surveillance are being maintained around the long march to keep law and order normal.